Miscellaneous Intelligence. 261 



and the zero to the eastward is at approximately the same depth, 

 300 fathoms. 



On the transverse section between Havana (Cuba) and the Re- 

 becca Shoal, of the Florida reef, just east of the Tortugas (section 

 CC), the curve of zero-velocity two-thirds of the way across to 

 Cuba, at station 4, has a depth of more than 750 fathoms; at 

 stations 2 and 3 (on the Florida side of station 4), 200 and 380 

 nearly, and at 5, on the Cuba side, only 220. 



The report states that the approximate volume of water flowing 

 through the section DD is 110 billion tons per hour; through the 

 section CC 103 billion tons, and the section A, which is that be- 

 tween the Fowey Rocks, Florida, and the Bahamas, 95 billion 

 tons. It is added, "The evaporation from the Gulf of Mexico 

 and the eddy current would account for the excess at section DD. 

 At section CC, in the calculation, the directions have been taken 

 as flowing east, and this, of course, gives too great an amount ; 

 the excess would probably be accounted for by this difference 

 and the eddy, leaving the volume actually flowing east equal to 

 that found at section A." 



Sections A and DD are alike in their northward flow, in the 

 general contour of the bottom, in the depth at which the current 

 reaches a zero velocity where it is not influenced by shoals (it 

 being 300 to 350 fathoms in each), and in having the axis of 

 velocity situated on the slope of the bank on the west side of the 

 Stream. The maximum velocity in section A is 5-25 knots per 

 hour, in section DD, 6 - 25 knots; the first was the monthly maxi- 

 mum without the effect of inertia, the last the monthly maximum 

 combined with the inertia of the stream. The idea of Lieut. 

 Maury that the middle of the stream is somewhat elevated re- 

 ceives support, if by middle the axis is understood, from the fact 

 that cuiTent bottles thrown overboard west of the axis invariably 

 bring up on the Florida Coast, and those east of it are never 

 heard from, they going into the broad Atlantic. 



The American Magnetic Pole. — The Report of Mr. Schott 

 on the Magnetic Work of the Greeley Expedition closes with the 

 following words : " In close connection with the scheme of physi- 

 cal researches undertaken by the International Arctic Committee, 

 the desirability of a new determination of the American pole of 

 dip does not appear to have been urged. * * * From the 

 time of Hansteen, early in this century, to the present time, efforts 

 have been made to trace out the supposed motion of the intersec- 

 tion of the so-called magnetic axis with the surface. While some 

 physicists hold it to be fixed in position, others believe it to have 

 a slow secular motion of limited extent, and still others would 

 give to it a rapid motion with a path which would carry it clear 

 round the geographical pole. The time has certainly arrived 

 when in this matter facts should take the place of speculation. 

 The writer has the assurance of the willingness of three distin- 

 guished American Arctic explorers to undertake this task; the 

 one thing lacking is the necessary funds to sustain the explorer, 



Am. Jour. Sci.— Third Series, Yol. XL, No. 237.— Sept., 1890. 

 16a 



